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Janet Jackson’s “janet.” turns 30

[italic]janet.[/italic] is the fifth studio album by Janet Jackson, released on May 18, 1993, by Virgin Records America. Prior to its release, Jackson was at the center of a high-profile bidding war over her recording contract. In 1991, her original label A&M sought to renew her contract, while others, such as Atlantic, Capitol, and Virgin all vied to sign her. After meeting with Virgin owner Richard Branson, she signed with the label. The contract was worth an estimated $40 million, making her the world's then-highest paid musical act.

In the United States, Janet became the singer's third consecutive album to top the Billboard 200 and her first to debut at number one. Selling 350,000 copies in its first week, it set a record for the highest first week sales for a female artist at that time. Certified sixfold platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), it has sold over seven million copies in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan. Internationally, Janet topped the record charts in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom, and has sold an estimated 14 million copies worldwide.

Janet remains one of only seven albums in history to produce six top-ten hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, including the number-one singles "That's the Way Love Goes" and "Again". The MTV-sponsored Janet World Tour supporting the album received critical acclaim for Jackson's elaborate stage performances, reinforcing her reputation as one of the preeminent artists of the MTV generation. Janet cemented her as an international icon and sex symbol, and is listed by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 200 Definitive Albums of All Time. Academics argued the erotic imagery in her music videos have contributed to a higher degree of sexual freedom among women.

Janet debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. It was the first a female artist debuted at number one since the start of the SoundScan era; with the largest first week sales in history for a female artist at the time with 350,000 units sold in its first week. The album also earned worldwide success, debuting at number one in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia. It also debuted in the top 10 in Sweden, The Netherlands, Canada (with 65,000 copies sold at the first week and Switzerland. In Germany the album peaked at number five and charted for 49 total weeks, becoming Jackson's longest charting album.

Janet was first certified gold by the RIAA on August 8, 1993, denoting 500,000 units shipped within the United States. The same day, the album's certification was raised to 3× platinum, denoting 3,000,000 units shipped. On November 17, 1993, Janet received 4× platinum certification and was later awarded 5× platinum on December 17, 1993. The following year on April 12, 1994, the album was certified 6× platinum. It was the second best selling album of 1993 in United States with 4.3 million copies sold, behind The Bodyguard soundtrack and was the biggest selling album by a solo artist. Within seven months of release the album had sold over ten million copies worldwide. Other certifications include a Double Gold certification in France, a 2× Platinum certification in the UK And Australia, a Platinum in New Zealand and a Gold certification in Norway.

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by Anonymousreply 31May 26, 2023 2:52 PM

Queen!

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by Anonymousreply 1May 19, 2023 4:44 AM

Her Rolling Stone cover from that era is arguably the most famous photo of a female pop star of all time.

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by Anonymousreply 2May 19, 2023 4:52 AM

Great makeup by Kevyn Aucoin.

by Anonymousreply 3May 19, 2023 5:57 AM

FF this garbage.

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by Anonymousreply 4May 19, 2023 6:05 AM
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by Anonymousreply 5May 19, 2023 6:06 AM

When this bitch has the most no. 1 singles, a no. 1 single across FOUR decades, and the best selling holiday single of all time, I’ll send her a note saying “Glad someone else could do it AFTER I did.”

by Anonymousreply 6May 19, 2023 6:25 AM

^Not to worry. She is one of only three artists and the ONLY black artist with a #1 album in the 80s, 90s, 2000s and 2010s.

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by Anonymousreply 7May 19, 2023 11:37 AM

Kathleen Battle's vocals on This Time was so cool.

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by Anonymousreply 8May 19, 2023 11:53 AM

I have this album, If is great!

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by Anonymousreply 9May 19, 2023 11:55 AM
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by Anonymousreply 10May 19, 2023 12:06 PM

Great CD - came out when I was in elementary school!

by Anonymousreply 11May 19, 2023 12:14 PM

Yet no-one under 30 has ever heard of her. What a legacy!

by Anonymousreply 12May 19, 2023 12:19 PM

Phenomenal album

by Anonymousreply 13May 19, 2023 12:21 PM

I think Control and Rhythm Nation are both very dated but Janet and Velvet Rope have held up very well. Janet got mixed reviews when it first came out but I actually prefer it over Erotica (and I'm a huge Madonna fan).

by Anonymousreply 14May 19, 2023 12:22 PM

[quote]Yet no-one under 30 has ever heard of her.

Come again?

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by Anonymousreply 15May 19, 2023 5:20 PM

Big deal 42 I had the number one song in the nation and I don’t whisper coo!

by Anonymousreply 16May 19, 2023 5:48 PM

I love the boss way that she just slinked back with a mid-tempo R&B groove after the juggernaut that was the RN era and not only reclaimed the top spot, but outdid the previous album commercially.

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by Anonymousreply 17May 19, 2023 9:25 PM

Acting silly with her dancer, "The Kids"...

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by Anonymousreply 18May 19, 2023 9:26 PM

Janet and Tina were magic together. Her career choreographing for other artists was thanks in part to her exposure as Janet's longtime dancer and later choreographer.

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by Anonymousreply 19May 19, 2023 9:27 PM

An iconic album.

by Anonymousreply 20May 21, 2023 4:39 AM

That’s the way love goes…

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by Anonymousreply 21May 21, 2023 5:07 AM

"obesity."

by Anonymousreply 22May 21, 2023 5:40 AM

^”failure.”

by Anonymousreply 23May 21, 2023 12:43 PM
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by Anonymousreply 24May 21, 2023 2:10 PM

^We don’t need to see your nasty bowel movements.

by Anonymousreply 25May 21, 2023 3:54 PM

That Rolling Stone cover dumps all over anything Madge ever tried and all her forced, sterile sexuality.

And the Demi Moore pregnant Vanity Fair cover.

Not a Janet fan btw

by Anonymousreply 26May 21, 2023 4:08 PM

Iconic.

by Anonymousreply 27May 25, 2023 12:21 AM

Throb is the hotness. Her SNL performance still slays.

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by Anonymousreply 28May 26, 2023 10:58 AM

Janet gained 30 pounds to celebrate!

by Anonymousreply 29May 26, 2023 11:12 AM

Throb is still a banger 30 years later.

by Anonymousreply 30May 26, 2023 2:44 PM

The Love Child sample works really well in "You Want This".

by Anonymousreply 31May 26, 2023 2:52 PM
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